Live blog: 2024 NHL Draft - Rounds 2-7

LAS VEGAS - Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft from Sphere in Las Vegas wrapped up on Saturday afternoon.

On Friday, the Canadiens selected forwards Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage with the fifth- and 21^st-overall picks respectively.

Demidov was the second European off the board in Round 1. Meanwhile, Hage was one of 18 Canadians selected in the opening round – one shy of an NHL Draft record.

Montreal held the 70^th, 78^th, 102^nd, 130^th, 134^th, 166^th, 210^th and 224^th-overall picks on Day 2.

Round 3, Pick 70: Aatos Koivu, Center, TPS Jr. (Finland-Jr.)

The Canadiens started Saturday off with a bang, selecting Aatos Koivu, son of former Habs captain Saku, with the 70^th-overall pick. The Finnish forward split time between TPS’ U-18 team (9-13 –22 in 20 games) and the organization’s junior squad (16-15–31 in 28 games) in 2023-24. Koivu also represented his country at the 2024 Under-18 World Championship in May, where he recorded one assist in five appearances.

Saku was a first-round pick (21^st overall) by Montreal in the 1993 NHL Draft and served as the Canadiens captain for nine years. Aatos’ uncle, Mikko, was selected sixth overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2001 NHL Draft.

Round 3, Pick 78: Logan Sawyer, Center, Brooks Bandits (BCHL)

Eight spots later, Montreal selected forward Logan Sawyer from the Brooks Bandits in the British Columbia Hockey League – a Junior A circuit in Western Canada. The Orangeville, ON native totaled 26 goals and 59 points in 39 games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, before Brooks migrated to the BCHL mid-season, where Sawyer tallied an additional 19 points in 20 outings. The 18-year-old is committed to playing his college hockey at Providence College.

Round 4, Pick 102: Owen Protz, Defenseman, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

At the 102-spot, the Habs drafted 6-foot-1 defenseman, Owen Protz, from the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League. The physical, stay-at-home blue-liner recorded seven points (1G, 6A) in 36 games with the Sudbury Wolves in the first half of this season, before being traded to the Bulldogs where he collected 12 points (2G, 10A) in 30 contests, while sharing the ice with current Habs prospect Florian Xhekaj.

Round 5, Pick 130: Tyler Thorpe, Right Wing, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

With the 130^th-overall pick, Kent Hughes and the Habs’ brass elected to take forward Tyler Thorpe from the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League. The 6-foot-4, 209 lb. right-winger collected 44 points (23G, 21A) in 51 appearances with his junior team in 2023-24.

Round 5, Pick 134: Mikus Vecvanags, Goalie, HS Riga (Latvia)

The bleu-blanc-rouge bolstered their goaltending pipeline by selecting Mikus Vecvanags from HS Riga in Latvia. The 18-year-old netminder posted a 3.00 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage in nine games for HS Riga in Latvia’s top division. Standing 6-foot-3, Vecvanags also played 16 games for Tukums in Latvia’s second division and appeared in eight outings for HS Riga 17 at the U-18 level.

Round 6, Pick 166: Ben Merrill, Center, St. Sebastian’s School (USHS-Prep)

Next, the CH explored the United States High School Prep route, selecting forward Ben Merrill from St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, MA. The right-handed centerman produced 18 goals and 37 points in 25 games as an 18-year-old. Merrill is committed to play for the Penticton Vees in the BCHL next season, with plans to join Harvard’s NCAA team in 2025-26.

Round 7, Pick 210: Makar Khanin, Right Wing, Dynamo St. Petersburg Jr. (MHL)

With their 210^th-overall pick, the Habs turned their sights back overseas, selecting Russian forward Makar Khanin. The native of Salavat, RUS, played in Dynamo St. Petersburg’s system this season, splitting time between the VHL team (Russia’s equivalent of the AHL) and the MHL squad (Russia’s top junior league). In total, the 19-year-old tallied 36 points (16G, 20A) over 42 games.

Round 7, Pick 224: Rasmus Bergqvist, Defenseman, Skelleftea Jr. (J20 Nationell)

The Canadiens rounded out the 2024 NHL Draft by selecting defenseman Rasmus Bergqvist from Skelleftea Jr. in the J20 Nationell league. The Swedish rearguard, who stands 6-foot-2, 181 lbs, earned 12 points (4G, 8A) in 36 games in 2023-24.

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Last updated: 3:44 p.m. ET